How to Cope With an Unexpected Pregnancy

Every pregnancy comes with a rush of emotions – surprise, nervousness, excitement. But when you weren't expecting to get pregnant, you might also add “fear” or “helplessness” to that list. If you find out you're pregnant unexpectedly, you need to know what to do next and how to find help. Keep reading for our tips.

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and you live near Tallahassee, FL, call or text A Women's Pregnancy Center at 850-297-1174 to learn more about your options.

Don't Panic

The most important thing to remember when you find out you're pregnant is also the simplest – don't panic. It's easy to start imagining terrible outcomes, but just take some deep breaths and do your best to stay calm. Remember that women and couples deal with pregnancy and parenting every day. You're certainly not alone, and there will always be ways to get help.

Make Sure You're Really Pregnant

You would be surprised to find out how many women start worrying about being pregnant before they've even taken a test. While a late or missed period is a common sign of being pregnant, it's not foolproof. You need to take an accurate pregnancy test to ensure you're really pregnant. At A Women's Pregnancy Center, we offer free and confidential pregnancy tests to any woman who needs one. Schedule an appointment today for yours.

See if the Pregnancy is Healthy

Once you know you're really pregnant, you also need to make sure the pregnancy is healthy and viable. An ultrasound examination can tell you whether your pregnancy is healthy and if it is growing safely in your uterus. It can also tell you the estimated gestational age of your baby and the estimated due date. This information helps you plan ahead and tells you what options are available to you.

At A Women's Pregnancy Center, we offer free and confidential ultrasounds to our clients in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Our ultrasounds are non-diagnostic and cannot assess the gender, gestational age, or health of the baby, but they are are able to show fetal heartbeat and confirm uterine pregnancy. After a positive pregnancy test, any of our clients are welcome to have a free ultrasound. Schedule an appointment today to find out if you are pregnant!

Learn About & Consider Your Options

Not sure whether you're ready to be a parent? You have a few different pregnancy options you should consider. Each one has its own upsides and downsides, but you will only be able to choose one for your pregnancy.

Parenting – Parenting is the most obvious choice, but if you aren't in a stable life situation, it can be difficult.

Adoption Placement – Many agencies work with birth mothers to provide care and living expenses during your pregnancy. You can also control how much contact you get with your baby after the adoption is complete.

Abortion – Many women rush to consider abortion. However, you should be aware of the mental and physical side effects that abortion methods involve.

Consider What's Holding You Back

Many women are scared when they find out they're pregnant because they don't think they're ready to parent or to support a child. It can help to consider what you think is keeping you from being a good parent. That way you can put effort into changing those things. For instance:

If you're worried about supporting a child financially, try planning out a monthly budget and seeing where you can save on your current expenses.

If you feel like you can't become a parent because of your school or work schedule, try looking into free or reduced-cost parenting help near you. There are a number of organizations and resources that can help you manage your schedule.

Think you're not ready to become a parent just because it's scary or you don't have any experience? Remember that everyone feels that way at one time or another. You can always get support and learn about parenting skills from classes, groups, and online.

Get Support and Help

It's natural to look for support and guidance when it comes to pregnancy. At A Women's Pregnancy Center, you can get assistance with every part of your pregnancy, including free pregnancy testing, free limited obstetric ultrasounds, and other options for advice and help. Call or text us at 850-297-1174 now to learn more or schedule your appointment online today.